Method for hydrocarbon injection into an exhaust system, upstream of a turbocharger, while minimizing exposure of the exhaust gas recirculation system to the same hydrocarbons

• US 7,513,106 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2006
• Issued: 04/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cummins Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cummins Incorporated
• Inventors: Owens, Douglas E
• Primary Examiner(s): Wolfe, Jr.; Willis R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hoang; Johnny H.
• Application Number:
  US11/591,064
• Publication Number:
  US 20080098730A1
• Time in Patent Office: 888 Days
• Field of Search: 123434-438, 123/27.R, 123/299, 123/568.11, 602/74, 602/76, 602/78, 602/88, 603/23, 602/85, 602/86, 603/03, 731/181
• US Class Current: 60/278
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 13/10 of exhaust manifolds with cooling jacket F01N3/046
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 13/107 More than one exhaust manifold or exhaust collector
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2430/085 at least a part of the injection taking place during expansion or exhaust stroke
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0065 Specific aspects of external EGR control constructional details of EGR system F02M26/00
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/027 to purge or regenerate the exhaust gas treating apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/405 with post injections
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 26/14 in relation to the exhaust system
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 26/43 in which exhaust from only one cylinder or only a group of cylinders is directed to the intake of the engine

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to engines, and, more particularly, to an exhaust system for reducing buildup in an exhaust gas recirculation system when mixing hydrocarbons with exhaust.

Claims

1. An engine for reducing buildup in an exhaust gas recirculation system when mixing hydrocarbons with exhaust comprising:

an exhaust system including;

a first engine cylinder in communication with a first injection system, the first injection system configured to inject hydrocarbons into the first engine cylinder;

a first exhaust passage in communication with the first engine cylinder;

the first injection system configured to provide hydrocarbons to the first exhaust passage when the first engine cylinder moves a first exhaust gas into the first exhaust passage;

a second engine cylinder in communication with a second injection system, the second injection system configured to inject hydrocarbons into the second engine cylinder;

a second exhaust passage in communication with the second engine cylinder;

the second injection system inoperative when the second engine cylinder moves a second exhaust gas into the second exhaust passage;

wherein the first exhaust passage and the second exhaust passage are separated from each other to inhibit entry of the first exhaust gas into the second exhaust passage.

2. The engine of claim 1 wherein the engine is a diesel engine.

3. The engine of claim 1 wherein the first injection system is a direct fuel injection system.

4. The engine of claim 1 wherein the exhaust system is an exhaust manifold.

5. The engine of claim 4 wherein the engine includes a plurality of cylinders, the first exhaust passage being configured to receive exhaust from at least one of the plurality of cylinders.

6. The engine of claim 5 wherein the second exhaust passage is configured to prevent receipt of the exhaust from the at least one of the plurality of cylinders.

7. The engine of claim 1 wherein the exhaust system includes an exhaust gas recirculation tube, wherein the exhaust system provides for operation of the exhaust gas recirculation tube during active regeneration while limiting exposure to the hydrocarbons.

8. The engine of claim 1 wherein the first injection system is configured to perform in-cylinder dosing.

9. The engine of claim 8 wherein an exhaust gas recirculation tube is configured to recirculate exhaust during in-cylinder dosing.

10. The engine of claim 1 wherein the exhaust system includes an exhaust gas recirculation tube, wherein the exhaust system provides for operation of the exhaust gas recirculation tube during active regeneration while impeding exposure to the hydrocarbons.

11. The engine of claim 1 further comprising an exhaust gas recirculation tube operably coupled to the second exhaust passage.

12. The engine of claim 11, wherein the first exhaust passage and the second exhaust passage are separated to impede entry of the first exhaust gas into the exhaust gas recirculation tube.

13. The engine of claim 1 further comprising at least one third engine cylinder in communication with the first exhaust passage, and a third exhaust gas from the at least one third engine cylinder is substantially impeded from entering the second exhaust passage.

14. A method for reducing buildup in an exhaust gas recirculation system when mixing hydrocarbons with exhaust comprising the steps of:

providing a fuel injection system to provide hydrocarbons to a first cylinder during an exhaust cycle of the first cylinder such that the hydrocarbons enter a first exhaust passage, the fuel injection system inoperative to provide hydrocarbons to a second cylinder during the exhaust cycle of the second cylinder such that the hydrocarbons do not enter a second exhaust passage;

providing the hydrocarbons to the first exhaust passage to cause active regeneration;

recirculating at least a portion of exhaust from the second cylinder by way of the second exhaust passage, the second exhaust passage isolated from the first exhaust passage;

and

substantially impeding the hydrocarbons from entering the second exhaust passage.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of:

providing the hydrocarbons to the first exhaust passage while recirculating at least a portion of exhaust from the second exhaust passage.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the first exhaust passage and the second exhaust passage form a portion of an exhaust manifold.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of providing hydrocarbons includes in-cylinder dosing.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the recirculating step includes providing the at least a portion of exhaust to an exhaust gas recirculation tube.

19. The engine of claim 16, wherein the exhaust manifold further comprises a tube in communication with the second exhaust passage for recirculating the at least a portion of exhaust.

20. The engine of claim 19, wherein the first exhaust passage and the second exhaust passage share a common wall.

21. The engine of claim 20, wherein the tube is located closer to the second cylinder than to the common wall.

22. An engine for reducing buildup in an exhaust gas recirculation system when mixing hydrocarbons with exhaust comprising:

means for providing hydrocarbons to a first exhaust passage to cause active regeneration;

means for recirculating at least a portion of exhaust from a second exhaust passage isolated from the first exhaust passage; and

means for substantially impeding the hydrocarbons from entering the second exhaust passage.

23. An engine for reducing buildup in an exhaust gas recirculation system when mixing hydrocarbons with exhaust comprising:

an exhaust system including a first exhaust channel in communication with a first exhaust passageway and a second exhaust channel in fluid communication with a second exhaust passageway, the first exhaust passageway isolated from the second exhaust passageway;

a first injection system adapted to provide hydrocarbons to a first engine cylinder and the first exhaust channel; and

an exhaust gas recirculation tube coupled to the second exhaust passageway, wherein the first exhaust passageway is isolated from the second exhaust passageway between the first engine cylinder and the exhaust gas recirculation tube.

24. The engine of claim 23 wherein the hydrocarbons are at least substantially prevented from exposure to the second exhaust channel.

25. The engine of claim 23 wherein the first injection system is adapted to perform in-cylinder dosing.

26. The engine of claim 25 wherein the exhaust gas recirculation tube recirculates exhaust during in-cylinder dosing.

27. The engine of claim 23 wherein the exhaust system provides for operation of the exhaust gas recirculation tube during active regeneration without substantial exposure to the hydrocarbons.

28. An engine for reducing buildup in an exhaust gas recirculation system when mixing hydrocarbons with exhaust comprising:

an exhaust system including a first exhaust channel and a second exhaust channel;

a first injection system to provide hydrocarbons to a first engine cylinder and the first exhaust channel;

an exhaust gas recirculation tube coupled to the second exhaust channel; and

a barrier isolating the first exhaust channel from the second exhaust channel between the first engine cylinder and the exhaust gas recirculation tube.

29. The engine of claim 28 wherein the barrier is coupled to the exhaust system.

30. The engine of claim 28 wherein the hydrocarbons are limited from exposure in the second exhaust channel.

31. The engine of claim 28 wherein the first injection system is configured to perform injection during an exhaust stroke.

32. The engine of claim 31 wherein the exhaust gas recirculation tube is configured to recirculate exhaust when the first injection system injects hydrocarbons during the exhaust stroke.

33. The engine of claim 28 wherein the barrier substantially prevents the exhaust gas recirculation tube from being exposed to hydrocarbons during active regeneration.